Carbon-removing means for internal-combustion engines



R. C. BERRY. H

CARBON REMOVING MEANS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES. APPLICATION: FILED ocr. so, 1916.

1,339,014, I Patented May 4, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT C. BERRY, or INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

CARBON-REMOVING MEANS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Diary 4, 1924).

Application filed October 30, 1916. Serial No. 128,600.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, ROBERT C. BERRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at In dianapolis,Marioncounty, and State of Indiana, have invented anddiscovered certain new and useful Improvements in Carbonllenioving Means for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification. Y I

My invention relates to means for removing carbonfrom the, surfaces of internal combustion'engines exposed to the combustion of the gases. The" invention particu larly relates to means designed to prevent the accumulation of carbon on the spark plug and surface adjacent thereto and to en able any carbon that may have been deposited, to be burnedofi; The principal object of the invention is to provide an attachment embodying the above means and capable of being, applied to existing engines without change in the structure of the latter.

' WVith these objects in view, my invention is embodied in preferable form in the construction hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section through the combustion chamber of a cylinder of an internal'combustion engine and through the device adapted to be applied thereto for burning off the carbon, and Fig. 2 is a horizontal section-on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a cylinder of an internalcombustion engine and 2 indicates a screw cap of the usual form adapted to be threaded. into the cylinder above the valve and 3 designates the usual spark plug opening in said cap 2. The device embodying my invention is adapted to be inserted into this opening in lieu of the spark plug. The device consists of a hollow structure providing a chamber having means therein for inducing a draft of gas and flame therethrough and it consists of a cup-shaped baseportion 4 having a stem 5 adapted to engage the threaded opening 3, and an upper cap portion6 having a thread ed flange adapted to engage the base portion at and forming with. the latter the hollow chamber before referred'to. The said chamher 6 is provided with a central boss or stem 7 into which is threaded the spark plug 8 which is of the usual construction and within the chamber formed by the members 4 and 6 is mounted an annular hollow draftinducing body 9 consisting preferably of two parts fitted together and held in engagement-by means of rivets 10. The ring-like structure of this member provides a central opening 11 which is directly above the passageway, through the stem 5 leading from the combustion chamber of the cylinder. I

*Formed through the inner wall of the member 9 are apertures 12 which serve to admit the hot gases and flame from the channel of the stem 5 and the chamber above the same into the annular hollow member 9. Adapted tocommunicate with the interior of the body 9 is the stem'13 of a hollow valve cas' ing 14 which'is provided with openings 15 and'isadapted to contain a ball valve 16 which is pressed upon by a spring 18. The spring 18 presses against the ball valve with sufficient force to hold the latter to its seat against the force of the compression within the cylinder but is adapted to yield under the force of the explosion. Above the ball valve and adapted to be forced against the same or removed from it is a threaded adjusting stop screw 19 mounted in the valve casing and which is adapted to be moved down against the ball valve to hold the same rigidly on its seat to close the opening through the pipe 13 and thus prevent the operation of the device. Glamped on the upper end of the screw stop 19 is a lever 20 which may be connected to a suitable operating handle extending to a point accessible for ready manual operation.

In the operation of the invention, when it is desired to utilize the same for the removal of carbon, the screw stop 19 is screwed upwardly a short distance so as to permit the ball valve freedom of movement upward from its seat, and thereupon when the engine is operating and compression takes place, the gases will be forced up through the hollow stem 5 into the chamber of the device and the pressure of the spring 18 on the ball valve will hold the latter to its seat, thus preventing the escape of the gases. When, however an explosion takes place the flame and gases will be forced through the channel 5 and thence into the chamber between the members 4 and 6 and thence through the openings 12 into the hollow annular body 9 and out through the hollow stem 13 with sufficient force to lift the valve from its seat and permit the outward escape of the gases whereby a draft is induced through the chamber in which the spark plug is located, thus serving to concentrate the heat and flame on the surface of the plug and the adjacent area and effectually burn off any carbon that may have been deposited. When it is desired to cut off the passageway leading from the chamher to the atmosphere it is merely necessary to screw down the stop member 19 by turning the lever 20 until the screw bears tightly against the ball valve whereupon the latter will be held firmly to its seat, thus closing the passage Way.

The conduit 9 also serves as means for heating the gases after they have been compressed in the cylinder and before they reach the spark plug, thereby not only facilitating the ignition and obtaining complete combustion, but also serving to prevent the formation and deposit of carbon, owing to the greater heat generated and more complete combustion thus obtained. Owing to the fact that the draft inducing gasand heating device is above the upper end of the cylinder and the spark plug above said device, the lightest part of the body of gas will rise into contact with the spark plug, thus further assuring effective ignition and combustion. g

The superheated temperature of the gas drawn through the device into contact with the spark plug may be regulated by adjusting the extent of opening of the outlet valve.

The device is particularly useful in connection with engines already constructed, since it may be applied by merely removing the usual spark plug and inserting the plug or stem of the draft inducing device into the spark plug opening.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination with a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, an attachable device adapted to be secured to an engine cylinder and including a chamber in communication with the cylinder, a spark plug carried by the device and means in said chamber having an outlet leading tothe atmosphere for inducing an outward draft against said spark plug upon the explosion of the charge to increase the heat adjacent said spark plug.

2. In combination with a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, a hollow member having communication with the upper end. of said cylinder, a spark plug carried by said member, an annular conduit in said member having restricted openings communicating with the chamber thereof, and a passageway controlled by a valve opening outwardly to the atmosphere and communieating with said conduit and the atmosphere;

In combination with a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, a hollow attachable member adapted to be secured to the top of said cylinder and having communication with the interior of the latter, a spark plug carried by said member, an annular perforate hollow body in said member, outlet means leading from said body to the atmosphere, a valve adapted to open outwardly in said outlet means, and means for controlling the seating of the valve operable to'hold the valve closed under the force of the compression stroke and :to

permit the valve to open under the firing stroke.

In. witness whereof, I have hereunto set \Vitnesses:

A. 0. RICE, H. P. DQOLITTLE. 

